Tried & Tested: Reviews The Hoxton, Amsterdam, Netherlands
author: Patrick Whyte
Amsterdam in the spring sunshine is a thing of beauty. Tulips of varying sizes colour the front of almost every building and few European cities can compare with it for the sheer amount of history squeezed into such a small space. So easy is it to get lost in the
surroundings that I almost missed
the entrance to one of its newest hotels, The Hoxton. Centrally located, it occupies a large plot overlooking the Herengracht canal, one of the city’s most well-known waterways. This 111-room property was once five separate dwellings but now knocked into one, they represent the latest outpost for this growing brand. And like the others it is aiming to be something of a destination in its own right. The unimposing entrance gives
way to a large, open space, most of which is taken up by Lotti’s, the restaurant bar run in partnership with Soho House & Co. There’s a
good, meaty menu on offer but the real highlight is the cocktail selection. If it hasn’t been hired out, head up the staircase at the far side of the room to the more secluded mezzanine area. Despite the fact a local Dutch
design company was used, there’s a definite sense of east London about the place, emphasizing the brand’s Shoreditch roots. While checking in, I found myself thumbing through a mid-90s edition of The Face and brickwork and piping is frequently left exposed, while objects are artfully placed at random. This theme continues up
into the bedrooms, which are fitted out with vintage-style furniture. Here you get more of a sense of history, with wood-panelling and beautifully restored single-glazed windows. Potential guests can choose from
a number of room types – from the honestly named Shoebox to the larger Roomy. We were in the middle with a Cosy room. It’s probably worth suggesting that clients spend the extra money for a canal view for the people-watching opportunities – just be aware that the early morning traffic can be a little noisy. Unlike a lot of other
hotels, you get the
sense that it is not trying to rip you off. Wi-Fi is free
and rather than exorbitant mini-bar prices, staff at the front desk will sell alcohol at local supermarket rates. Included in the room price is a
breakfast bag, left outside your room every morning, but if you fancy something more substantial you can pay extra and head down to the main restaurant. Tel: 00 31 20 888 5555,
thehoxton.com
How to book it From €89 for a Shoebox room.
The Queens Cheltenham, UK
author: Abigail Challenor
Growing up in Cheltenham, The Queens hotel was an iconic landmark. Glimpses of its black and white chequerboard lobby and glittering chandeliers always seemed mysteriously enticing. Fast-forward 20 years and even without my experience working in the travel industry I could see this “Grand Dame” of Cheltenham was in dire need of some TLC. Step forward Accor’s M Gallery by Sofitel brand, which has added the property to its boutique portfolio along with other UK hotels in Bath and Windsor. Renovations were completed last
September with The Queens revealing a new look that has brought the fantastic history of this Grade-II heritage-listed building into the 21st century. I spotted preserved 175-year-
old hand-painted wallpaper in the hotel’s central stairwell and a carved wooden bar gifted to Lord Napier, a previous hotel patron. As stunning as the Indian carving is, I couldn’t help but be drawn to what lay behind it; a vast collection of gin in categories such as spicy, floral and citrus. In the Orangery, the hotel’s main
dining room topped with a glass atrium ceiling, I learned that new head chef Ben Harmer hails from the tutelage of Rick Stein and came to Cheltenham from Cornish high-flier The Bedruthan Steps. He favours a local, seasonal approach and the menu during my chilly
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January visit was heavy on game. After sampling Harmer’s labours
I retired to my room with its soft grey tones and views down Cheltenham’s Promenade. The real highlight here was the huge fluffy cloud of a bed and it was an effort to drag
myself up the next morning, but the cornucopia of a breakfast buffet made it worthwhile. Tel: 01242 514754
accorhotels.com
How to book it Rooms from £148pn, mid-week.
East London vibe
Renovated landmark
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